Critics have highlighted the failures of SB 562 in several articles published in the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times. According to a Senate analysis, SB 562 would carry a staggering price tag of $400 billion annually and an assumption of a 15% payroll tax on Californians’ paychecks.

“The Senate has voted to give Californians a false promise that is unaffordable and unworkable. It is pure fantasy to think that the state can provide free government-run health care to citizens and undocumented immigrants alike while also cutting overall health care costs. The $400 billion price tag of SB 562 is more than double Governor Brown’s proposed 2017-18 budget of $183 billion. The math of single-payer just doesn’t add up.

“Furthermore, I do not have faith that the same government that is currently struggling to fund basic obligations such as Medi-Cal, education and transportation would fulfill the promise of single-payer. But what single-payer will do is significantly raise taxes on families, force businesses to move to other states and ration care.

“I agree with Governor Brown that you cannot solve a problem by replacing it with a bigger problem. I hope he vetoes SB 562, should it reach his desk,” said Senate Republican Leader Bates.